Aromatherapy

New Tea Tree oil salve at the Knivsta market Thursday, August 18th

 in Aromatherapy / Gardening / Markets / Natural Skin Care by
Calendula and Tea Tree oil Salve

Calendula and Tea Tree oil Salve

It is time to put our feet back into shoes again so I felt inspired to make a strong calendula salve with tea tree oil.  This is great for keeping away or addressing any fungal issues lingering between the toes and healing up blisters and cuts from a summer of outdoor play.  Of course it’s great for many other applications as well because Tea Tree is an anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral essential oil that is highly tolerated by almost everyone.  If we use an organic and sustainable source then we have highly effective medicine to work with.  Calendula is also an effective, non toxic, herbal medicine.  I hand pick and process this organically grown flower in several different ways and for this salve I used two different preparations in oil in order to give it a double impact.  The first is a 4 week midsummer sun infusion into Safflower and Jojoba oils and the second is a 24 hour warm infusion of fresh flower into Safflower oil.  These are blended with a small amount of lavender essential oil and a strong (20%) amount of Tea Tree oil.   Apply this salve to minor cuts and scrapes.

I will have this salve at the market Thursday in Knivsta and Saturday in Uppsala along with many other great herbal preparations grown and produced here in Sweden.

2016-08-12 Lavender distillation

 in Aromatherapy / Distillation  tagged lavender distillation by

I really appreciate Lavender and wanted to do a solo distillation when it was at its peak. Harvesting in the early morning sun when about half the flowers are open brought the most essential oil that I have seen yet, especially from a small distillation (about 1 litre of plant material).
Here is the oil in the separator.

Lavender oil in the top of the separator with the hydrosol dripping into the jar on the right.

Lavender oil in the top of the separator with the hydrosol dripping into the jar on the right.

 

 

………………….and the Lavender before distillation.

Lavender tops in flower

Lavender tops in flower

Seasonal Transitions

 in Aromatherapy by

Sometimes we need a little support during the transition times.  I support the plants by providing cover which helps regulate the temperature between day and night, providing a little warmth, protection and regularity.  We begin wearing jackets and scarves to help keep the cold breezes out too.

Transitions Essential Oil Blend

Transitions Essential Oil Blend


Transitions, a healing blend of essential oils, is a great way to support the mind and body via the limbic system.  It is comforting while being action oriented.  You can wear it on the skin or a scarf or just smell right from the bottle.

Lavender harmonizes the flow of chi helping things to work together smoothly.

Cypress circulates the chi, aiding in letting go of the old and welcoming the new, transforming one’s approach to change.

Palmarosa is nourishing and warming and encourages grounding.

Cedar Atlas tonifies, helping to clear blockages, both physical and emotional.

These are in a base of Safflower oil at around 50% strength in a 3,75ml bottle.  Tap on the bottom to release one drop at a time on the wrists or in the palm of your hand, then breath deeply in as many times or as often as you like.

Enjoy each day as it comes and goes.

2016-07-27 This is the Tulsi we distilled today

 in Aromatherapy / Distillation / Gardening by

I come out in the mornings and harvest tulsi for the tea we make each morning. Some mornings I am greeted by such phenomenal growth I spend an hour or more tending to this amazing aromatic and healing plant.  I am given many insightful moments this way.  Tulsi is a devotional plant, used in many ritual ways, but devotion I can understand.  It makes me want to sing and I understand that there are songs written and sung for and about her.

This is the Tulsi I found this morning. If you would like to share it, please try the hydrosol.

morning Tulsi blessings

Morning Tulsi blessings

2016-07-26 Family time, lots of harvesting and a couple of distillations

 in Aromatherapy / Distillation / Food / Gardening by

The kids don’t always participate in garden work but today was a blessing as they were all about it.  Harvesting is their favorite; they can see, touch and taste the many things we have.  We even get help with research when needed, like today when I didn’t really know what to do with the stevia plant that I picked up this year at the garden show in Stockholm, and my son read all about it and helped us to decide how to process it.

Here is a list of what we did this morning together and then afterward we continued to distill and process herbs for the entire day.  At this time of year, we do this several times a week with various plants and crops.

  • Two kinds of mint were harvested and put on the drying racks.
  • Lemon Balm was harvested and put on the drying racks.
  • Lemon verbena was harvested and some put on drying racks and some in a 5 liter distillation. A Lemony Fresh stress buster!!
  • Stevia harvested and will become a tincture tomorrow.
  • Roman Chamomile harvested and into a small distillation.  This Roman Chamomile hydrosol is very special; yes it’s relaxing but the aroma is soothing, almost smooth like butter.  We might end up with 10 or so bottles for sale.
  • Gotu Kola harvested from the greenhouse plants that are for sale.  My own crop lives indoors and takes up half of the sunny south side window sharing that space with the Rose Geraniums.

Tomorrow I will get up first thing and harvest Tulsi.  She really likes the attention.

The day before yesterday I blended new batches of Garden Herb Tea and a Relax/Peace tea to clear the drying racks.

my daughter harvesting from the pots of gotu kola. A great way to snack.

My daughter harvesting from the pots of gotu kola.  A great way to snack.

One of the larger pots of Gotu Kola after the harvest and the bounty.

One of the larger pots of Gotu Kola after the harvest and the bounty.